Instagram Pics/ Chicago

Left: The skyscrapers are amassed in Chicago, Right: The 9-5 commuters on the streets

Left: The rooftop bar at The Virgin Hotel has an amazing red installation Right: The Art Deco Fortress near Ashland Station

Left: North of the city and abandoned sky blue mattress against a red brick wall, Right: Skyscrapers face off

Left: The bridges of Chicago city, Right: Mies meets Picasso, what a duo!

Left: The Mies forecourt with an amazing tree, Right: Ellsworth Kelly at The Chicago Institute of Art, a must see!

Left: Blue tiled wall, north of the city on Broadway with Brutalist sculpture, Right: Shipping yards

Marcus on behalf of SMH, Inc has the pleasure of visiting Chicago a number of times for work a year and is always delighted at new discoveries in that great city. With his I Phone camera and Instagram never far from reach, Marcus loves capturing the essence of a city in his graphic and very particular way.

This trip he played even more attention to the architecture of the city having the opportunity to wander the streets. Chicago CBD revolves around Michigan Avenue, the iconic building ‘s and big stores but it’s really the suburbs that take extra effort to explore. With this in mind Marcus explored much of the northern suburbs visiting a number of flea markets and shopping districts in that area, sourcing vital props for our latest projects.

View more at our Instagram

Here are Marcus’s recommendations:

Hotels

The James Hotel/ Chicago

Marcus stayed here 2 weeks of the trip, A easy to mistake reasonably large hotel that actually feels more boutique, The rooms are modern and clean and the staff very helpful

The Virgin Hotel/ Chicago

You sleep with the rattle of the L train in the distance but this location is great. The hotel is very hip with lots of great social areas and very cleverly designed rooms. The views are spectacular.

The Chicago Athletic Club

The whole complex is amazing with this conversion of the traditional Chicago Athletic Club to a buzzing hotel and with over 4 eateries to choose from including an amazing rooftop situation.

 Shops

Scout, Andersonville

This store has an amazing curated collection of decorative items and industrial furniture, brimming with decorators; it’s the place to be inspired.

Sprout and Sprout Home

This plant store is so inspiring with vignettes galore of amazing well curated plants and pots, they even have potting classes for kids. Their new home store directly across the street has amazing wares. They also have a store in Brooklyn/ New York.

Broadway Antique Market

Two stories of dealers with an amazing collection, Lot’s of vintage record dealers currently, great to build up your record collection. Hours of fun! 

Restaurants

Avec

The freshest menu in the city, classic minimalist interior, great service.

Duck Duck Goat

An amazing interior and a fun take on a traditional Chinese restaurant with a great selection of cocktails and dishes.

 Eataly/ Chicago

For when you have to be in the city, A bowl of pasta and a glass of chilled white wine are fine friends to have after a long day in the studio.

What's on my turntable?/ Instagram

Clockwise: Grace Jones, Liza Minelli and Diana Ross 

Clockwise: Yves Montand, High Society and Madonna 

Clockwise: Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, Sylvester and Madonna

Clockwise: Barry Manilow, Grace Jones and The Rolling Stones 

What would life be without music? A very dull place indeed! Music really does provide the soundtrack to our lives and there are pivotal artists, songs and albums that resonate with each and all of us at certain times in our lives. Think of all the moments we have all had, where without those attachments to music we wouldn’t have the magic of hearing a song out of the blue that takes you back to a special place, nothing beats that!  

It’s not only the music itself but the images that have been produced that are connected to a certain performer we admire, French graphic designer, illustrator, photographer and advertising film director Jean Paul Goude’s association with Grace Jone’s image is iconic and formed her visually as an artist, As did Andy Warhol. Madonna’s working relationship with Photographer’s Herb Ritts and Steven Meisel to name a couple produced cover images we will never forget. Photographer Richard Avedon and Audrey Hepburn, Artist Keith Haring and Sylvester…the list goes on.  

Here at SMH, Inc we have a fascination with LP’s and Marcus’s vinyl collection grows by the day. So many amazing cover art has been produced over the years and with our passion for Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration, It’s only natural we gravitate towards these covers which ironically are exactly the right square format to sit nicely in an Instagram post. Hence we have been able to share rather than keeping our LP’s stacked away in the cupboard and through Instagram we feature some of our personal favorite’s in a section we call What’s on my turntable.

Here are a few above, Look out for more as the collection expands. 

Instagram/ Sydney/ Australia

Sydney's Norther Beaches, Collaroy Pool, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Shelly Beach and Sydney Rock Oysters at The Boathouse, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Clareville Beach, Caravan and Boats for hire, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Aesop's Strand Arcade Store, CBD, Koskela with a collaborative exhibition by Australian Artist Mavis Warrngilna Gambarr Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

The Society inc, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Prop Co Op, A fantastic prop shop owned by Georgie Dolling, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Left: Marcus's old apartment building designed by Harry Seidler, Right: Sydney buildings including Sydney Tower, 1981, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Deco glory, Left: The Metro in Potts Point and The Albury Hotel, Darlinghurst, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Left: The UTS Faculty of Engineering Building, Right MLC Centre, designed by Harry Seidler, 1977, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Murals by Vladimir Tichy, Late 1960's, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

Left: John Brack, "The Breakfast Table" 1958 and Right: Sidney Nolan, "Luna Park" 1941, At The AGNSW, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

On the beaches, Seaweed and fishing baskets, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

The harbor from The Manly Ferry, Left: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Right: The Sydney Opera House, designed by Jorn Utzon, 1973, Photography: Marcus Hay for SMH, Inc

On a recent trip back to the motherland, Marcus enjoyed a month sinking back into the Australian way after more than 10 years living away from this great city down under.

Here is his account:

The first thing that strikes you when finally clear the airport is that that light is bright, Sydney has the type of light that could blind you it’s so brilliant. Everything seems so, so blue and there is a reason why blue features heavily in most decorating palettes in the city, it’s everywhere. The sky on a good day is so crisp but on a stormy or cloudy day, the clouds billow and float above you with the imminent possibility of a downpour at any minute.

Perhaps the people of Sydney’s temperament is not unlike the weather, Clear and sparkly one minute but can become dark and stormy the next. There is a raw energy and a sense of wild abandonment you can feel in general in Sydney with it’s folks, however recent lock down laws have forced people to reconsider their wilder side usually spurred on by a chardonnay too many.

I like this slightly brutal side of Sydney, It’s unashamed in it’s raw beauty, buildings are monumental and graphic, dig deep and you will find amazing nods to modernist roots with ceramic murals and art deco wonders all around the city.

Venture onto the beaches and nature will hit you in the face, open rock pools, breathtaking views of waterways and coasts. Graphic seaweed and cute waterside eateries will have you eating 4 courses and 2 bottles of wine before the afternoon is out, Sydney is that type of place.

Shopping will delight with many designers and stylists opening stores particularly around the inner west, which is blossoming. The inner CBD has killer shopping complex’s that sparkle with modern intensity, I prefer the charm of The Strand Arcade however that has been there for over 120 years.

Make sure you head to the AGNSW and to discover Australian art, old and new. 

3 shops to check out:

1. Aesop/ Strand Arcade

www.strandarcade.com.au

A must for lovers of Apothercary and amazing scents

2. The Society

www.thesocietyinc.com.au

Stylist Sibella Court’s store and studio specializing in interiors, product development, branding & global sourcing

3. Koskela

www.koskela.com.au

Store and Workshop combined, Koskela takes a design conscience stance creating their own designs and encouraging collaborations with global artists

3 places to eat at:

1. The Boathouse/ Shelly Beach

www.theboathousesb.com.au

Delicious Sydney rock oysters and lots of options for breakfast and lunch

2. Clareville Kiosk

www.clarevillekiosk.com.au

A gem on the beaches, amazing food and wine selection

3. Tetsuyas

ww.tetsuyas.com

French Japanese experience you will never forget for a special occasion